Control arms / ball joints not covered by warranty?
Zon
need new ball joints / control arms. However, they say they are not covered
by warranty since they are wearable items like tires. Car has now 36kmiles,
and I do not think it is ok for ball joints / control arms to go at that
mileage.
What should I do? Just accept that and pay 370USD for replacement, or what?
Has this happened to anyone else? Dealer says this is new problem for them,
they haven't seen them breaking at this mileage.
BR:Z
Randolph
(http://www.bilprovningen.se) just compiled a report with results the
mandated annual safety checks, and found that around 20% of inspected 3
year old 3-series BMWs had excessive wear on the ball joints. Average
odometer reading for the inspected 3-series cars were around 36k miles.
Perhaps if BMW thinks about it for a while they'll come around and offer
you at least a good discount on the work.
John Stone
jo...@reply-to-group.please wrote on 6/15/04 12:25 PM:
The first suspicious thing is that the dealer says it is a "new problem" for
them. The control arm issue is very common, and it is not at all unusual to
have to replace them at 36K. A lot depends on driving conditions, but this
is really a weak point for 3 series suspensions. I don't remember what year
the 323 was out, but I'm assuming a 2000 model. Assuming a US purchase, it
could be still in warranty, but past the free maintenance period. I would
definitely take this up with BMW, or at least try another dealer.
Rod Davies
This may tip mei nfavor of the Merc.
Rod
Perth
Australia
"John Stone" <jms...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:BCF4EE8E.2600E%jms...@comcast.net...
tech27
"Rod Davies" <lda...@tpgi.com.au> wrote in message
news:40cf...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
> Just as I am to order either a new 318i or C180K Mercedes, I read this.
>
> This may tip mei nfavor of the Merc.
>
> Rod
> Perth
> Australia
>
Definitely go with the Mercedes. Not one of their vehicles has ANY weak
points. Everything has always and will always be perfect. Remember, you are
not buying a car to drive, you a acquiring a thing of beauty and perfection
to mirror your own pinnacle of achievement.
Don't buy the BMW. They are all poorly engineered "Nazi Shitboxes" (I got
that insight from alt.rednecktruckers.com).
Greg Gentry
design. Yeah it may not be as stylish but the manufacturer usually has the
bugs worked out by then.
Greg
"Zon" <jo...@reply-to-group.please> wrote in message
news:10873203...@news.vaisala.com...
John Stone
wrote on 6/15/04 7:02 PM:
> Just as I am to order either a new 318i or C180K Mercedes, I read this.
>
> This may tip mei nfavor of the Merc.
>
> Rod
> Perth
> Australia
>
>
To be honest, it isn't that big a deal. A lot of BMW's here in the US came
with sport suspensions and low profile tires. This, along with the condition
of some of our roads has to take a toll on suspension components. One of my
coworkers in Norway just picked up an 01 520i, and this car comes with 15"
wheels and tires. Such small wheels aren't even available in our market.
And even if you do have to pay to replace the arms, they aren't very
expensive-especially if you have an independent mechanic do the work.
Fred W.
"Zon" <jo...@reply-to-group.please> wrote in message
news:10873203...@news.vaisala.com...
That is total BS. While balljoints have been known to wear out, they are
not, nor have they ever been, considered "wear items" such as tires or
brakes. How do I know? I have a 1997 Ford Exploder that wore them out
inside the warranty. There was noit the slightest hesitation to replace the
upper and lower joints under the warranty. Believe me, that was a much
bigger job than throwing in a couple of lower control arms on a bimmer.
Ask them why you need new control arms? Generally, it is only the outer
joints which wear out on 3 series cars. AFAIK they are individually
replaceable and can be pressed in and out of the existing arms without even
removing the arms from the car. The only reason to replace the arms is for
the inner ball joints (which I have never seen worn out) or if the arms are
bent (would not be covered under warranty) or cracked (would be unless you
admit to racing your car)
Press them on this and you should be able to get the work done free. Get a
second opinion...
-Fred W
Zon
factory warranty.
I went back to dealer and explained that I'm not ready to accept that these
joints are wearing items, not at 36kmiles anyway. They still refused to do
it under the warranty, but took care of it in "good-will spirit" whatever
that is :) I'm glad they were flexible and I have no more slack in
suspension.
BR:Z
Fred W.
"Zon" <jo...@reply-to-group.please> wrote in message
Cool. That's what I would tell the customer too if I were them. Save some
face not having to admit I'm wrong and make you feel "special" at the same
time. You got it done and that's all that really matters, right?
But I'll bet anything that they are going to apply for warranty credit from
BMWNA for the work.
-Fred W
Joe Frank
weeks ago. Car had 40,000 miles. The original estimate was appx. $300.00 for
the replacement ball joints. The car went in for repair and I received a
call from the service manager that the control arms had been redesigned and
the replacement ball joints would not fit. The result was the cost went to
$836.00. No choice, I had them replaced but I did call BMW and complained.
The result was a $300.00 credit from the dealer for parts or service. Hope
this helps!
"Zon" <jo...@reply-to-group.please> wrote in message
adder
> This is why it is always a good idea to buy one of the last year models of a
> design. Yeah it may not be as stylish but the manufacturer usually has the
> bugs worked out by then.
>
> Greg
>
>
This has always been a "problem" on BMWs and probably always will.
Fred W.
"Joe Frank" <eagle...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uOSdnVlgFrB...@comcast.com...
> I have a e-46, 1999, 328I and I experienced the exact same problem about 3
> weeks ago. Car had 40,000 miles. The original estimate was appx. $300.00
for
> the replacement ball joints. The car went in for repair and I received a
> call from the service manager that the control arms had been redesigned
and
> the replacement ball joints would not fit. The result was the cost went to
> $836.00. No choice, I had them replaced but I did call BMW and complained.
> The result was a $300.00 credit from the dealer for parts or service. Hope
> this helps!
So the dealer was saying that you can't replace the ball joints in an E46
control arm? That seems hard to believe. Can anyone validate that?
-Fred W
Fred W.
"Fred W." <Fred.Wills@allspam myrealbox.com> wrote in message
news:lNidnVNcRIM...@adelphia.com...
>
> So the dealer was saying that you can't replace the ball joints in an E46
> control arm? That seems hard to believe. Can anyone validate that?
Responding to my own question... (how sick is that?)
I just checked in the ETK and there is no replacement ball joint part shown
or listed. I guess the dealer was correct. Which begs the question... How
did they not know this in advance?
-Fred W
Tom Korth
with 55k miles. I'm holding off as I can feel no irregularities in either
steering or braking. - At what point should I bite the bullet & replace
them?
Tom
fbloogyudsr
> The dealer wants about $1,000 to replace the control arms on my E46 328i
> with 55k miles. I'm holding off as I can feel no irregularities in either
> steering or braking. - At what point should I bite the bullet & replace
> them?
Having recently done this on an older 525i, I can tell you that you
probably won't notice any symptoms as they are usually quite subtle.
Probably you will be getting poor tire wear, possibly some shuddering
while braking. IME you won't feel any reduction in the car's handling
ability.
FloydR '01 330xi, '91 525i
Tom Korth
"fbloogyudsr" <fbloo...@nwlink.com> wrote in message
news:10d3g54...@corp.supernews.com...
>
> Having recently done this on an older 525i, I can tell you that you
> probably won't notice any symptoms as they are usually quite subtle.
> Probably you will be getting poor tire wear, possibly some shuddering
> while braking. IME you won't feel any reduction in the car's handling
> ability.
>
Thanks, Floyd. Although there is no problem when braking rapidly from 70
mph, I just measured appreciably more wear on my right front tire, and
uneven wear on both fronts. I guess it's about time to raid the piggy bank!
Tom
Rob Munach
Considering it probably takes under an hour for an experienced tech to
replace both sides and to perform an alignment, I think $800 is pretty
steep.
Somebody
"Rob Munach" <xle...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:QakAc.26217$Di3....@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Fred W. wrote:
>
> > "Fred W." <Fred.Wills@allspam myrealbox.com> wrote in message
> > news:lNidnVNcRIM...@adelphia.com...
> >
> >>So the dealer was saying that you can't replace the ball joints in an
E46
> >>control arm? That seems hard to believe. Can anyone validate that?
> >
> >
> > Responding to my own question... (how sick is that?)
> >
> > I just checked in the ETK and there is no replacement ball joint part
shown
> > or listed. I guess the dealer was correct. Which begs the question...
How
> > did they not know this in advance?
Is that not the same situation as the E30? You buy an aftermarket ball
joint and have it pressed in.
BMW will only sell you the entire arm with ball joint installed.
-Russ.
Fred W.
"Somebody" <some...@nospam.russdoucet.com> wrote in message
news:HtkAc.6565$vO1....@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
>
> "Rob Munach" <xle...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:QakAc.26217$Di3....@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> joint and have it pressed in.
> BMW will only sell you the entire arm with ball joint installed.
On an E30 yes, but BMW would sell and/or replace the outer ball joint on
E36's. Guess they went back to the old position...
-Fred W
Rob Munach
With a control arm only costing $70 for an E30, there is no reason to
buy the ball joint separately.
Somebody
> Somebody wrote:
>
> With a control arm only costing $70 for an E30, there is no reason to
> buy the ball joint separately.
Wow where do you buy yours? That's a good price!
-Russ.,